Active Schools

At Scoil Phádraig, we believe in the power of inclusion and physical activity to enrich every student’s experience. Our school welcomes students of all abilities, backgrounds, and interests, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. We prioritize physical activity as an essential part of daily life, integrating dynamic sports programs, recreational activities, and wellness initiatives into our curriculum.

Whether through team sports, outdoor adventures, or fun, active learning sessions, we encourage students to move, collaborate, and grow.

In 2017, we proudly received our Active Schools Flag, a testament to our dedication to promoting physical activity within our school community. Since then, we have continued to encourage students, staff, and families to embrace a more active lifestyle. Our school remains committed to fostering a culture of health and wellness through:

• Daily Physical Activities: We incorporate fun and engaging exercises during the school day.
• Sports Events: We organize regular sports activities, competitions, and active events for students of all abilities.
• Community Involvement: Our initiatives involve the broader community, promoting active habits beyond the school grounds.

Every year Scoil Phádraig hosts and ‘Active week’ where local clubs and experienced coaches from the Wider Clane community are invited to our school to teach our students new skills and further enrich their learning experiences. These coaches bring specialized knowledge in various activities, from sports to arts, offering our students the chance to explore new interests, improve their abilities, and gain confidence in a fun, supportive environment. We have established many partnerships with our local clubs over the years and we greatly appreciate their help so our students grow personally and academically.

At Scoil Phádraig, we offer a wide range of sports teams for senior students to join! Soccer, basketball, athletics, football and hurling to name a few! Participating in team sports helps students stay active, develop teamwork skills, and build lasting friendships.

We offer children across all class groups opportunities to participate in the following:

• Dance Classes: Junior Infants to 3rd Class, helping children explore rhythm and movement.
• Swimming Lessons: 2nd Class to 6th Class, building confidence and skills in the water.
• GAA Coaching: Junior Infants to 6th Class, teaching teamwork, coordination, and a love for Gaelic sports.

In addition, all children are taught fundamental movement skills through the Move Well, Move Often program, and experience all strands of the PE curriculum throughout the year.

Meet the Active Schools Team 2024/2025

Active Schools Week 2024

Saor Dance and Fitness

Dance in education involves the child in creating, performing and appreciating movement as a means of expression and communication. Dance differs from the other aspects of the physical education programme in that the primary concern is with the expressive quality of movement and the enjoyment and appreciation of the aesthetic and artistic qualities of movement. The child’s concept of what a dance can be enriched by opportunities to see and appraise the more accomplished work of others.

Elaine from Saor dance and fitness teaches students a variety of dance styles and promotes fitness through dance .

Gymnastics

Gymnastics in education is concerned with the use of movement in a creative way in response to set tasks, both individually and with others. Children explore movement on the floor and when negotiating a variety of equipment. The gymnastics curriculum encourages children to participate in movement experiences that are open to personal interpretation, providing every child with the opportunity to experience success at a personal level, by engaging in challenging but realistically achievable tasks.

Athletics

The athletics strand provides a variety of opportunities to engage in the natural activities of running, jumping and throwing. Children learn the fundamental skills of walking, running, jumping and throwing through a wide range of informal and formal play experiences.

The games strand fosters the child’s natural tendency to play through informal play activities. It enhances the development of basic skills, and many opportunities are provided for social interaction. Scoil Phádraig provides a balanced program of games ensuring all children experience a wide variety of activities that provide enjoyment and challenge and that foster a lifelong interest.

Aquatics

The aquatics programme is concerned with gaining competence and confidence near, in, under and on water. It provides unique opportunities for enjoyment, allowing the child the sensation of buoyancy. The emphasis on enjoyment should be maintained as proficiency is acquired in specific techniques, including learning to swim a variety of strokes.

Outdoor and Adventure

Outdoor and adventure activities are facets of the physical education curriculum concerned with walking, cycling, camping and water-based activities, orienteering, and outdoor challenge activities. Orienteering is an exciting activity that combines the geographical skills of map work, the physical activity of walking or running and the adventure of exploring nearby locations.